FIREFIGHTER DUCKIES!

Three little ducks have a very dangerous—and silly—job to do.

Firefighter duckies must be brave and strong. With sirens blaring, they race toward peril, never knowing who might need saving. Sometimes it is a gorilla, with a chef hat on fire (watch out for those pesky cupcake candles). Or perhaps it is two lemurs tangled in a tree. But whatever the case, they are ready. Because, as the repeating refrain reminds readers, they are brave and strong. To be shouted boldly: “They are the FIREFIGHTER DUCKIES!” But sometimes all of these situations can just be too much. How are they supposed to rescue dinosaurs on bicycles (their arms just can’t reach the handlebars) or rampaging centipedes (they crawl around yelling, “Rampage!”)? Instead of being brave and strong, they just might need to be helpful and kind. They offer solutions to the despairing creatures—the dinosaurs should roller skate instead; the centipedes should munch on some delicious leaves. Dormer’s three fowl friends have comically large beaks and tiny spindly legs. Their expressive faces (which take up most of their bodies) run the gamut from proud through shocked and exasperated to sleepy. Even their firetruck is brimming with personality.

Certainly not evocative of a real firefighter’s job, but absurd situations will elicit storytime giggles.